Automatic stop for narrow fabric looms



United States Fatent O 2,969,814 AUTOMATIC STOP FOR NARROW FABRIC LOOMS Alfred W. Heym, 1742 Starr St., Brooklyn, NY. Filed Aug. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 756,610 11 Claims. (Cl. 139-371) It has long been found difiicult to provide a stop motion which will satisfactorily fulfill the practical requirements for looms of the narrow fabric type. Such looms so called batten members which cause the shuttles to move back and forth longitudinally of the strips being 'woven, at the limits of the transverse reciprocatory movements above referred to.

one hand that such a stop motion be reliable in stopping It is important on the the loom whenever the tension in the yarn being fed from any one of the shuttles falls to zero (for example 2,969,814 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 to the plane of Fig. 1, and the parts being shown in positions assumed during normal operation.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in position to stop the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the batten members 1 and 2 which should be understood as illustrative of battens used in looms of the type above referred to. Carried by the battens are shuttle blocks 3 and 4, between which shuttles should be understood as mounted to move back and forth transversely of the machine in laying the filling thread or yarn, as is well understood.

in the art. Fig. 1 shows one such shuttle A engaging one of the shuttle blocks 4, and feeding the thread 5 which is to be woven into a narrow fabric strip 6, but it should be understood that a large number of such shuttles will normally be provided and located side by side across the machine, with each shuttle serving respectively one of a large number of fabric strips being when the yarn breaks or runs out) or whenever the tension falls below the range obtaining in normal production of satisfactorily woven products. It should be insured that the device will remain inactive even though the normal tension on the yarn be very slight, and yet be positive and reliable in stopping the machine when required. On the other hand the tension on the yarn varies substantially under different normal operating conditions and it is also important that the device he not oversensitive or erratic in performance so as to stop the loom unnecessarily. It is further important that the stop motion be effective as soon as possible after a breakfor other abnormal reduction in tension has occurred, otherwise defects in the weave will be produced in the meantime. Also it is desirable that the number of parts of the device which are required to move during normal operation, be kept to a minimum.

The invention aims primarily to provide a stop motion which will fulfill the above and other practical requirements met with in looms of the type above referred to, which requirements prior stop motions of which I am aware have failed in one or more respects to meet satisfactorily. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically re ferred to in the description hereinafter contained, which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred form of stop motion constructed to operate in accordance with the invention; the disclosure however should be considered merely as illustrative of the invention in its broader aspects. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view with certain parts cut away and showing in simplified form, the main operating parts of simultaneously woven. It should be further understood that the batten members 1 and 2 and the shuttles carried thereby will be moved back and forth longitudinally of the strips in timed relation to the transverse movements of the shuttles as above referred to. The above main operating parts 1-4 of the machine and their mode of operation will not be described in further detail since various appropriate forms thereof have long been known and used in the art.

In accordance with the present invention each shuttle carries in the rear portion thereof, a contactor which is mounted to move between idle and active loom-stopping positions and which moves to its active position when the tension on the thread falls below the normal operating range. The batten structure is provided with a target member past which the contactor sweeps during the above mentioned transverse movements of the shuttle. So long as the contactor is in idle position the target member is not aflfected thereby, but when the contactor is moved to active position by a drop in the tension as above' referred to, transverse movement of the shuttle ,causes the contactor to activate the target member and the latter is appropriately coordinated with the loom driving mechanism 'to stop the machine. With the above relationship of loom-stopping parts, the stopping of the machine is not dependent upon the above mentioned forward and back movements of the shuttle, in other words the machine is stopped solely by the transverse shuttle movements above referred to, and therefore the motion stopping parts may be readily so coordinated that the machine will be stopped almost instantaneously, usually much more quickly than in the case of a stop motion which has to wait-so to speak-to come into operation until the occurrence of one of the above mentionedforward and back movements of the shuttle before coming into operation.

The shuttle A may be constructed for the most part 7 as is conventional in the art, being shown as of D-like a loom of the type above referred to, with which parts the invention is primarily concerned.

Fig. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view'showing a shuttle constructed in accordance with the invention, in operative relation to the immediately adjacent parts of such a loom. g

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the shuttle shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken parallel shape and provided with an appropriate quill 8 Fig. 3 from which the thread 5 is fed, and having an appropriate friction drag 9. From the quill 8 the thread passes first to a guide eyelet 10 shown as loosely carried by a mounting wire 11, and then successively through guide eyelets 12 and 13, and then out through a guide tube 14 mounted in the forward nose portion of the shuttle.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the contactor above referred to takes the form of a plunger 15 slidably mounted in the rear face portion of the shuttle and which when moved outwardly fom the inactive position shown in Fig. 3, will activate the target member 16 (Fig. 2) when the contactor is moved into alinement with the target during the above mentioned transverse tension exists' in yarn 5,

.,t.. A. Y; g H shiftingcam 20 into the RP SIUQI'ILS l'IQWII' in Fig; 3 where n thecontactor' 15 is inactive. At times when the'tension movements of the shuttle. In Fig. 2 a target member 16 is shown in simplified manner, in the form of a' iunger urged by spring 17 into the path of transversemovement ofthe contactor 15.,when thelatter is .in active position, the plungerl6 being provided withagbridging switch member .1 8 which closes the circnit19whenactiva-ted by the contactor' 15. Appropriate circuit connections as known to those skilled in the art will be understood as provided in the circuit 19 to bring the machine to a stop under the above conditions. I

An appropriate number of target members 16 etc. will be mounted in spaced relation along the batten structure,'b eing carried for example by a bar 18a supported by brackets 18b extending from the batten member 2. Appropriate signal devices (not illustrated) such asarelknownlin thejartimay'be provided to indicate to the operator when the machine has stopped, which space in the loom needs attention. I

Preferably thecontactor 15 is positively moved between jitsidle andiactive positions, and positively .held in each such position. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. '3,"eam actuation is employed for this purpose, comprising a camtmember 20'slidably mounted within the passage Z ila' in the rear portion of the shuttle. This can: member iis provided with the 'inclinedportions 21 which cooperate "with the inclined walls of a slot 22 extending "through the contactor 15. Fig. 3 shows the contactor in inactivelposition and movement of the .cam

member Q Q to theright from the position shown in Fig. i h s h n Fi 4 il me 'the 9ntactor into the active position shown in Figl 51. ,A SEC? wall pf'theshuttle. Thus the commensis n oved into and held in" activ PQS l P So long "as abnormally lew in yarn varies within the narmnoperating rangepthe eyelet" 13 may" shift 'back and forth without however relieving the tension on cord 24 sufficiently to enable spring 23 to shift the contactor 15 to active position. The friction drag 9is more powerful than spring 26, in other words when normal operating tensionis being built up in yarns, eyelets '12 and 13 will move substantially into the positions shown in Fig. 3 before the tension becomes sufficient to feed the 'yarn from the shuttle, and spring 26 will have stretched sufliciently to insure that contactor 15 has been moved against the tension exerted 'by spring 23 into the inactive position shown in Fig. -3. It is only when the eyelet 13 moves out'substantially' to the position-shown in Fig. 4, due to reduction in tension below the operating range, that the cam member' -ZQ'becomes sufiiciently relieved of tension applied by cord 24ft enable spring 2 3 to move -confactor 1 a e" li n-11, other Wa ds vat stiga of tensionwithin Ih "normal operating range .jn'ot shift the cam sufliciently to move the contactor to active position.

By appropriate proportioning of the strength of springs 23 and 2 6 the device may be readily coordinated so as to be reliable in holding the contactor 15 inactive even undervery slight operating tensions, and nevertheless be reliable in stopping the machine when the "tension fallsbelow the operating range. With' the" contactors carried by the rearj'portions of the shuttles and their targets carried by the adjacent batten structure, the stop motion does not have to await forward or back movements of the shuttles and may be set up to come into operation very quickly whenever a break occurs. During tension conditions within the normal range, the only -partot the stop motionwhich movesto any" snbstaritial extent is the eyelet 13, which largelyrelieves the device of wear.

While the invention has been disclosedas carried out by the above described preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that changes may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, within the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1., In,a loomof the character described, having;bat-

shuttlenblock structure and a plurality of shuttles rno'unted f orlongitudinal movement and for transverse lmo'yernent withgrespect to the batten structure, mechanism forgstopping-{the loom upon reduction in the filling yarn tension below "the normal operating range, comprising acontactorcarried by the shuttle, and having earn engaging means, a target member carried by the lbatten strneture and positioned adjacent to the path of lll'hl/El of thc' contactor during transverse movement .ihet pfil lsl ea d ra f mbe a o rr d a fi a w-mim d n t shu tl nlnw i t nsm t n with said contactrn', and means 'tfesponsive a' es tension of the 'yarn being fed from the "for actuating said can: [member to move said he a jcon t m te i m t "of th shuttle mrnotion transrnitting 'r contaetorfinto' position tol activate said target member a th sh fll m ss tr nsver ly, wh the y ans i drops belowth ;normal.op' erating range, and forlactluatam m s -i m sa d mi a ar o-ima 10 w en t he yarn"tension reaches apoi nt within "norma ppe ti 7 2. Aloom shuttle of'the characterdescribed having a quill carried'the reby,' and ayarn guiding. opening in ithe nose portion thereof, guide eyelets through which the yarn passes on its way from said quill to said open- P iOn 9 h huttle r movement between ac tive and inactive posi- 'rea P rt o r V an h p'tofsa d d" fe t i dn e t9 'gh'an i e e m theyarn passing through said eyelets for actuating said c am lmember 'to move said contactor between its'a foresaid actiiie and inactive positions. 7

3 JA -Ioom shuttle 'of the character described having ,a quill carried therebyfand a yarn guiding opening in the nose portion thereof, guideeyelets through which the yarn passes on its way from said quill to said opening, a contactor mounted in the rear portion of the shuttle for inward and ,ioutwardtmovement with respect to the shuttle, a eam mernber also carried by the shuttle and a g lsiths b a nt s u t e o c r yi g a spring nrging -said can; member to :move in one direction, and a tension member acting between said cam member-and one ,of said eyelets to urge saidvcam member to move in the opposite direction.

.4; A loom-shuttle of the character described 'having a quill carried-thereby; and a yarn guiding opening in the nose portion thereof, guide eyelets through which the yarn passes on its way=from said quill to said opening,

5. A loom shuttle of the character described having a quill carried thereby, and a yarn guiding opening in the nose portion thereof, guide eyelets through which the yarn passes on its way from said quill to said opening, a contactor mounted in the rear portion of the shuttle for inward and outward movement with respect to the shuttle, a cam member also carried by the shuttle and engaging the contactor, the shuttle also carrying a spring urging said cam member to move in one direction, and a tension member acting between said cam member and one of said eyelets to urge said cam member to move in the opposite direction, said shuttle also having a second tension spring means connected to another of said eyelets to apply tension to said tension member when the yarn tension is within the normal operating range.

6. A loom shuttle of the character described having a rear portion provided with shuttle block engaging parts, a nose portion provided with a yarn guiding opening, said shuttle also having a quill positioned between said rear and nose portions, said quill being spaced rearwardly of said nose portion, a contactor, means mounting said contactor at said rear portion of the shuttle for movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and outer active position, means including a spring urging said contactor toward its outer active position, a yarn guiding eyelet disposed forwardly of said quill in position to move back and forth longitudinally of the quill in the space intervening between said quill and nose portion, and means whereby normal tension on the yarn passing through said eyelet and guide opening holds said contactor in its inner inactive position against the action of said spring, said last mentioned means including a tension member extending rearwardly from said eyelet and connected to said means including a spring.

7. A loom shuttle of the character described having a rear portion provided with shuttle block engaging parts, a nose portion provided with a yarn guiding opening, said shuttle also having a quill positioned between said rear and nose portions, said quill being spaced rearwardly of said nose portion, a contactor, means mounting said contactor at said rear portion of the shuttle for movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and an outer active position, means including a spring urging said contactor toward its outer active position, a yarn guiding eyelet disposed forwardly of said quill in position to move back and forth longitudinally of the quill in the space intervening between said quill and nose portion, and means whereby normal tension on the yarn passing through said eyelet and guide opening holds said contactor in its inner inactive position against the action of said spring, said last mentioned means including a tension member extending rearwardly from said eyelet, and cam mechanism interposed between said tension member and contactor, said cam mechanism being contoured to move said contactor into active position and positively hold the contactor in such position, upon the release of normal tension of the yarn.

8. A loom shuttle of the character described having a rear portion provided with shuttle block engaging parts, a nose portion provided with a yarn guiding opening, said shuttle also having a quill positioned between said rear and nose portions, said quill being spaced rearwardly of said nose portion, a contactor, means mounting said contactor at said rear portion of the shuttle for movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and an outer active position, means including a spring urging said contactor toward its outer active position, a yarn guiding eyelet disposed forwardly of said quill in position to move back and forth longitudinally of the quill in the space intervening between said quill and nose portion, and means whereby normal tension on the yarn passing through said eyelet and guide opening holds said contactor in its inner inactive position against the action of said spring, said last mentioned means including a tension member extending rearwardly from said eyelet, and cam mechanism interposed between said tension member and contactor, said cam mechanism being contoured to hold said contactor positively in inactive position under different tensions on the yarn which are within the normal operating range of tension.

9. A loom shuttle of the character described having a quill carried thereby, a yarn guiding opening in the nose portion thereof, a contactor, means mounting said contactor on the shuttle for movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and an outer active position, means including a spring urging said contactor toward its outer active position, yarn guiding eyelets interposed between said quill and nose portion, and means whereby normal tension on the yarn passing through said eyelets and guide opening holds said contactor in its inner inactive position against the action of said spring, said last mentioned means including a ten sion member interposed between one of said eyelets and said contactor, and a second spring connected to another of said eyelets to urge the latter to exert tension on said first mentioned eyelet under normal conditions of tension of the yarn passing through said eyelets and guide opening, and thereby hold said contactor in inactive position against the action of said first mentioned spring.

10. A loom shuttle of the character described having a rear portion provided with shuttle block engaging parts, a nose portion provided with a yarn guiding opening, said shuttle also having a quill positioned between said rear and nose portions, said quill being spaced rearwardly of said nose portion, a contactor, means mounting said contactor at said rear portion of the shuttle for movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and an outer active position, means including a spring urging said contactor toward its outer active position, yarn guiding eyelets disposed forwardly of said quill in position to move back and forth from and toward each other longitudinally of the quill in the space intervening between said quill and nose portion, a cam member slidably mounted in the rear portion of the shuttle in engagement with said contactor, a spring in said rear portion urging said cam member to move in one direction, means whereby normal tension on the yarn passing through said eyelets and guide openings holds said contactor in its inner inactive position against the action of said spring, said last mentioned means including a tension member connecting said cam member with one of said eyelets, and a second spring connected to another of said eyelets to cause said second spring to hold said contactor in inactive position during normal conditions of tension on the yarn passing through said eyelets and guide opening, and to relieve tension applied by said second spring to said cam member, to cause the latter to move said contactor to its outer active position under the action of said first mentioned spring, upon the release of tension on the yarn.

11. A loom shuttle of the character described having a rear portion provided with shuttle block engaging parts, a nose portion provided with a yarn guiding opening, said shuttle also having a quill positioned between said rear and nose portions, said quill being spaced rearwardly of said nose portion, a contactor, means mounting said contactor at said rear portion of the shuttle for sliding movements with respect to the shuttle between an inner inactive position and an outer active position, a cam member engaging said contactor, means mounting said cam member for movements back and forth along the rear portion of the shuttle, said cam member being contoured to hold said contactor positively in inactive position under dilferent tensions on the yarn which are within the normal operating range of tension, and to move said contactor into active position and positively hold the contactor in such position upon release of normal tension of the yarn, a spring urging said cam member to move the contactor toward its outer active position, a plurality of 8 References Cited in the file of-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS He'er Nov. 10, 1896 Ballard Apr. 3', i936- FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 9, 1895 

